When Spencer goes back into the fantastical world of Jumanji, pals Martha, Fridge and Bethany re-enter the game to bring him home. But the game is now broken -- and fighting back. Everything the friends know about Jumanji is about to change, as they soon discover there's more obstacles and more danger to overcome.
While reboot/ remake/ sequel of the original Jumanji was something that nobody asked for or wanted (RIP Robin Williams), it's true that Jake Kasdan managed to bring something fresh to the premise with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Kasdan returns for the follow-up sequel to the reboot/ remake/ sequel (requel?) and brings back Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner to write the screenplay.
Welcome to the Jungle managed to bring something fresh to the premise, but Jumanji: The Next Level would have to do just that and take this follow-up sequel to the next level in order to keep the franchise fresh; either incorporating new story and game mechanics or by simply increasing the scale of the action. The Next Level does a bit of both. The surprise and intrigue--of what will happen--is lost as the audience is already fully aware of how the game is meant to work. The writers do give their audience the benefit of the doubt and incorporate a few comedic elements that only those familiar with its predecessor will fully appreciate.
The game Jumanji has been altered this time, and with the alterations come new characters, a new mission, and a couple of extra quirks in the game mechanics. The comedy relies heavily on the whole "person playing against their type" trope and does get overzealous with it at times, leaving the audience feeling tired with the whole concept by the third act. It is a highly successful method for getting laughs at the start of the film and does form the vast majority of the laughs. Additions to our cast of "real-life" characters are Grandpa Eddie and Milo Walker, a couple of geriatrics played by Danny DeVito and Danny Glover respectively.
DeVito and Glover's performances are very entertaining, or should I say, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart do a highly entertaining job of impersonating DeVito and Glover's characters. It works well because their mannerisms are very well known already and do not require a lot of development to be funny. Despite my reservations towards Kevin Hart's comedic abilities, he is really in his element here, and his toned-down performance works in his favour.
There is actually a surprising amount of character development going on in this film, which helps form a stronger sense of relatability with our characters. In the previous film, they were just kids in detention. Now we have that same group, with family members, a history, and some dramas to add to the mix. Karen Gillan has a much larger role this time around, almost taking on the leader role, and does a superb job with it.
The story is still much of the same, however, and Jumanji: The Next Level has a tendency to overuse jokes and tropes until the laughs have well and truly worn out. This does cause a lull in the pacing from time to time until the next action sequence comes together. In general, the pacing is well-done, and the film is a fun and entertaining watch. Jack Black, Rhys Darby, and Nick Jonas are pretty much the same as in the earlier film, but Awkwafina adds a new dimension, and Rory McCann is a more believable antagonist.
The CGI is inconsistent; really good at the close-up shots, but definitely looks fake and green-screened when you get more wide-angle shots. This does, however, take place in a video game, so you could call it intentional. Jumanji: The Next Level is nothing spectacular but is still full of energy, and a fun way to waste 123 minutes in the dark. Be prepared for a mid-credits scene that may show the direction of a final Jumanji film.